The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-25

force Of their penalties if violated. TIE minor |
ity has right to take issue with the law, and |
by free discussion and public agitation 1t is le-
Ultimate to create public sentimen. against the |
law, that shall be sufficient in the end to repeal
the iaws but every man who violates law ana
every set Of men who defy and violate law In the
interests of trade, vocation, personal liberty or
party ought to be summary punished without
any regard to the social position. ma
tionality, opulence or poverty, race,
e W or party OF the me vs oe dsI;r
cred from bondage in Egypt came very near 60
ing to the other extreme of individual lawless-
ness. Of all persons in this country who ought
to be submissive to law are those who come to US
from the limited monarches and despotisms of
the old world. They come here of their own
free will. They welcomed to this 'land of
the free" But they are to-day, with many hon.
orable exceptions, the most lawless, insolent and
defiant of ali our people. Ignorant of the genius
of our institutions, incapable of self govern
meut, and FESTIVE and turbulent under all the re-
straints and limitat of our civil laws social
order and religious customs, they are easily
manipulated by the political demagogue, or So
cialistic dynamiter, and are ready to follow their
leader to the utmost extent of lawlessuess and
disregard for the public sentiment OF the Amer
lean people Now, l think that 1t is high time
that oil foreigners who como to our shores should
be made to understand very definitely and posi-
lively that they must do one of two things:
either submit to the laws of this country, or 60
back and bend their necks again to the yoke OF
govern sixty millions of people have to be
| rigorous, and this Republic must maintain the
supremacy of these laws or fall to pieces. 1T
the Constitution of the State the Nation is i'm
| perfect and inadequate it may be, by honorable
| MEANS amended. If the law is deemed uncon-
| stitutional, the courts are open. II law Is
| thought to be unjust and oppressive, you can
| take your appeal to the sovereign people. So
that with our broad Democratic institutions and
| perfect adjustment of our political econcmy, we
| have no need whatever in this country for mobs.
communes and Anarchists, mutnies, rebellions
and revolutions. Let all the men who howl
| about oppression in this country get out of 1t as
| soon possible, and go and find protection and
| freedom under the shadow of some throne.
! The sovereignty of the people Is fundamental
| principle in our form of government The prin-
| cple of popular election in this country is a
| most sacred one, and yet the form of our popu-
lar election is rotten to the core and this sacred
| Fundamental principle of cur free government
| is ruthessly outraged and wickedly blasphemed
The ballot box is raped and prostituted 10y pollt-
| ical bummers and dead-beats until 1T has well
| nigh lost all its former traces of chastity and
virtue, and to-day it is covered all over
with the slime and slobber of pc,
| these contests, s'recounts" and challenges
that follow thicker and faster our
popular elections9 Does it not mean
than the very fabric of political
economy is rotten, and that this doctrine
! of popular suffrage is huge burlesque that IS
already bringing us into ridicule and contempt
| We 90 not wonder that great journalist across
the waters should speak of the fostering ne VS.
from this country. He says, in poetic language,
what. alas is not all poetry concerning the
| news from the United States:
| I'VE read Of public scandal private fraud.
Crime Haunting, scot-free, while the mob applaud;
Office made vile to bride unworthiness,
And all the unwholesome mess
The land of broken promises serves OF late
To teach the old world how to wait"
Now, in my Judgment. this political corrup-
ton is not in the ascendency with the people.
am persuaded that the great majority of our
people are loyal, law-abiding citizens, and yet
the people must be held largely responsible for
the present condition of affairs In this country
the majority must rule. When political wire
workers and tricksters by any possible chicanery
or gerrymanderng defeat this constitutional
right of the majority if the people do not rebuke
and condemn ali such political corruption, they
are, in a measure. responsible. The sovereign
people must demand a pure ballot, fair coun,
J and the rule OF the majority. whether it be one
or ten Thousand.
The qualifications of the men chosen for office
is fundamental principle Foremost of these
qualifications is character Elect good mea tC
i l~office. In this world not much confidence car
| be placed in the mere professors of goodness
mans character is the only test. and sometimes
t that fails; but as a rnie, the man who is trust
worthy and upright in private life will remain 81
if called to public station. Taking men alone o.
4 good character may not put genius, O
: brilliant minds, or men of varied culture ant
: profound learning into Office. but such men al
Q ofhceholders and representatives of the peop,
t are not always the best men to be chosen Thu
e grand feature of our republican government
r this: 1t Is Intentionally and constitutional,
q adapted to the average talents of man
O kind. In this country a mans oualificato,
f for Office is not to be judged bv tn
+ standard of wealth. Farmers. rail-spli.ters
s tanners and shoemakers have filled some of tn
+ highest Offices in the gift of the American PEG
t pie with credit to themselves and honor to tn
i Nation. We need God-fearng men for thes
, places Of trust | do not mean to intimate tina
s a candidate should be good and acceptable
, member of some Christian church, but n
J. should at least believe in God. / do not thin
h that a man who does not feel that he is in som
. | measure accountable to God for his public &C
j. tions is qualified to hold any Office in this coun
J. try. His Office is ministered by most solem
oath, but IL there is no GOD to him this oath
Il an empty and meaningless ceremony All thi
h tendency in political affairs to get away fror
= God must be fraught with great peril to tn
y great fundamental principles of government
n | We need men OF moral courage in Office, VIII
= dare to be true to their oath of Office under tn
l. most trying circumstances It was the godl
. custom of our forefathers to open all their pub
n lie proceedings with prayer. They felt the nee
Y of divine guidance. They were not filled wit
q conceit to the extent of some of our moder
r statesmen, who seem to think that they can &c
d along very we'll without God in the management
l. of national affails We must conclude that tn
r prosperity and perpetuity of our Rerublic de-
Is ponds upon its strict conformity to the funda
II mental principles of its government. The pei
1t petuty and life of a watch depends upon th
a conformity of all its parts to the law OF its cor
IT struction. If steam engine is to continu
D. an engine, and do the work of an engine
g it must abide vigorously by the laws of it's cor
l. struction So health and life in the human bod
y depends on obedience to the general law of tn
r body. So this Nation must abide by by its cor
. stitutional provisions and Fundamental, princ
J. | pies ef its organic ife This foundation is
J. broad one, On it may be reared the supel
J. structure of a great civilization. Room here fo
;, all great commercial interests. Here edu
t cation may build her systems and plant he
O schools and universities. Here we find TN
l. broadest tolerance. that the church and a.
. her denominations finds ample room for her OK
Q erations. Here great political parties may taste
t their roots and grow and flourish. and becom
d dominant and powerful. But when any inter
| Of h1,sr rhath